Fishing Report for Week Ending August 18, 2013

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing is GOOD in most areas. Halibut fishing has also been FAIR TOGOOD, but there are lots of dogfish around.

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FISHERY RESTRICTIONS

Effective April 1, 2013 until further notice: The maximum length for halibut is 126 cm. The daily limit for halibut is one (1). The possession limit for halibut is two (2), only one of which may be greater than 83cm in length. There will be an annual limit of six (6) halibut per license. All halibut retained by the license holder shall be immediately recorded in ink on the Tidal Waters Sport Fishing license. The area from which each halibut is caught and its length shall immediately be recorded on license.

PORT RENFREW – Salmon fishing has been EXCELLENT both on the beach and out at Swiftsure Bank. On the banks there are lots of springs, some as large as 30 lbs, and coho. Six inch Delta G Force spoons in Outfitters or No Bananas colors have been slaying the fish. Inshore, the “beach area” is producing lots of springs, mostly from 10 to 25 lbs, with anchovies the most popular bait. East Point and Logan Creek have been good locations for salmon this past week. Cut plugging with herring can also be good in this area. Halibut fishing in the area remains strong for fish up to 50 lbs.

SOOKE – Salmon fishing remains VERY GOOD for salmon. Most boats were catching salmon all week and the number of springs taken has been high. There have been both morning and evening bites. Springs in the between to 32 lbs were caught near Sherringham Point, Otter Point, the Bluffs and Possession Point, or just about everywhere. There are still pinks to fill out the 4 salmon per day limit, but not as many as in previous weeks. The best action seems to be with the baits down from 50 ft to 75ft. Anchovies and herring are catching the most springs and Green glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads are popular when fishing bait for springs. Flashers to use include the Super Betsy, Purple Onion, Sooke Specials, and the new Green Onion.

Halibut – Halibut fishingwas GOOD over the weekend out past Muir Creek and towards near Point No Point and Jordan River. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

BEECHER BAY– Fishing was VERY GOOD for salmon. There are still quite a few pink salmon around, but the number of fish is smaller than in previous weeks. Spring fishing has been excellent with the fish running from 10 to 30 lbs in size. The best fishing for springs was around the Trap Shack and Beechey Head/Aldridge point area. Anglers are hitting the fish between 50 to 90 feet on the downrigger. Most anglers are finding bait out producing artificial lures for springs, with anchovies being the most popular choice of bait. But bring lots of bait as the pinks are biting steadily while you’re fishing for springs. The best teaser heads for anchovies were Green Glow, Peanut Butter, Purple Haze, Chartreuse/Green Chrome and the Bloody Nose.

PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Lots of pinks were caught, as well as springs and a few coho and sockeye. Most of the pinks are out in 300 to 500 feet of water and near the tide lines but you can get them closer in, even in the bay, on the flood tides. It’s been real good for springs too. The best areas for springs were Whirl Bay and Church Rock. The springs are fairly shallow in the water column, around 50 to 70 feet. Anchovies were the most productive bait with Green Glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads effective. Squirts will work too with UV colors like the Jellyfish, Purple Haze and Electric Chair the best patterns. The best flashers have been the Purple Glow and Purple Haze. 4” Coyote type spoons have been effective at times, with Green/Silver and Green/White Glow good patterns.

The Pink Salmon Festival Take A Kid Fishing event was held at Pedder Bay Marina and 65 boats took out 158 kids to fish for pink salmon. All of the kids got to take home some fish as well as memories of fun on the water.

Halibut – Halibut fishingwas GOOD in the Race Rocks area. The 27 and 17 fathom banks and the reef off of William Head all produced halibut on the weekend. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

VICTORIA – Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week near Victoria. On Constance Bank anglers were catching lots of salmon, mostly springs. Springs as heavy as 20 lbs were caught on the bank on Coho Killer and G Force spoons. Closer in it was relatively good for springs too with fish up to 37.2 lbs caught. Relatively meaning that at about a third of the boats got a spring or two. Although the biggest fish came from the breakwater, other locations on the waterfront produced more fish. Some pink salmon are now being caught closer in to shore, usually near the end of the ebb and the start of the flooding currents, especially off Brotchie Ledge and the Flag pole. Most anglers fishing Constance Bank are using artificial lures and trolling close to bottom. In close, anchovies are the lure of choice. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and the Glo Below. Gibbs Coho Killer, Kingfisher and Coyote spoons in all colours have been very effective. Good flashers have been the Super Betsey and Green/Silver Hot Spots.

Chelsea Kutyn with a nice spring salmon

The Clover Point Anglers’ Association held their 19th Annual Salmon Derby over the weekend. First place went to Jim Hale for a 19¾ lb spring caught on an anchovy near Finlayson Point. Second place went to Greg Kutyn for an 18¼ spring also caught on anchovy near Finlayson Point. Third place went to Lance Foreman for an 18 lb 1 oz spring also caught on anchovy near Finlayson Point.

Ashley Kutyn with a good size pink salmon

Halibut – Halibut fishingwas GOOD over the week at Constance Bank. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. There were springs to be caught, but not large numbers of them. The most popular method for catching springs is trolling near the bottom in 75 to 130 feet of water with squirts or spoons, Baitrix tiny strip, or small anchovy. That said, anglers jigging for salmon were catching as many if not more fish than the trollers this past week. Coho Killer spoons in Glow/Green worked well this past week. With spoons, 3” to 4” G-Force, Gypsy, Titans, and Coyotes in Cop Car or Silver/Green color will work just fine. Good squirts were the Electric Chair, Pickle Green, J-79 and Jellyfish.

Halibut – Halibut fishingwas GOOD over the weekend. A lot of small halibut moved onto the flats recently, with many being caught by anglers fishing there for salmon. Mackerel, Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was FAIR in the Sidney area. The best location has been the Pender Bluffs where both spring and pink salmon, and a few coho and sockeye, are now being caught. There weren’t large numbers of pinks, but there were some. Many anglers have been fishing for springs using anchovies in Bloody Nose, Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out producing hootchies recently and the hot patterns for springs now are Purple Haze, Glow Below and Electric Chair. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and 50/50 colors. Crabbing has been excellent.

NOTABLE CATCHES – The Clover Point Anglers’ Association held their 19th Annual Salmon Derby over the weekend. First place went to Jim Hale for a 19¾ lb spring caught on an anchovy near Finlayson Point. Second place went to Greg Kutyn for an 18¼ spring also caught on anchovy near Finlayson Point. Third place went to Lance Foreman for an 18 lb 1 oz spring also caught on anchovy near Finlayson Point. 12 year old Leann Rompain caught a 20 lb. spring on August 12th

OVERVIEW – Troutfishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area. Bass fishing is EXCELLENT as well. Carp fishing is EXCELLENT. Anglers are reminded of the following:” The use of single barbless hooks is mandatory in all streams in Region 1;” All foul hooked (i.e.: hooked other than in the mouth) must be returned to the river immediately. ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1 as well.

COWICHAN RIVER – The trout fishing is SLOW in the fly only section at the top end of the river. It’s the time of year when the tubers outnumber the anglers! There are a few rainbows and cutthroat trout, as well as resident brown trout that are active right now. Bead head nymphs are the top producer. Patterns working recently include the Golden Stonefly, Pheasant Tail nymphs, Prince Nymphs, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears, Elk Hair caddis’ and Stimulators. With all the salmon fry in the river fly anglers should try streamers, such as muddlers and fry patterns swinging through pools on full sink or long sink tip fly lines, especially for the Brown’s and Cutthroat.

TROUT – Troutfishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area. Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore. Chartreuse and Orange have been good colours recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are trolling Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers have been doing well with a variety of lures. The Rhys Davis Baitrix Trout lures and UV Mini Strip Teasers work well for larger fish too. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers with the police car one of the best and the black with silver glitter spots taking second place. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Yellow with Red Spots or Blue/Silver. Smaller Rapalas in Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout patterns also work well, the jointed Rapalas have also been great for larger fish. Larger Willow Leaf Lake trolls with a size 6 hook tipped with a small 1-2″ piece of worm always produce fish. If fishing with a down rigger for trout, try finding the thermocline, this is usually between 15 and 25 feet this time of year in the local lakes. The biggest trout have come from Langford Lake and Elk Lake. All wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.

BASS - Bass fishing is EXCELLENT. Crank baits have been effective when fished around 12 feet down with a fast retrieve. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks. Look for the fish suspended by drop offs close to shore along docks, branches, and any overhanging structure. Langford Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake and Elk and Beaver Lakes are the best local bass lakes. St. Mary’s Lake on Salt Spring Island is also a great lake for bass fishing.

CARP - The simplest bait to prepare when time is an issue can be bought at your local grocery store. A few pieces of toast or bread rolls can sometimes be your best ticket to carp numbers. Bread balls are deadly. The preparation is simple and clean. Roll a small piece of bread into a ball, wet it with your saliva and onto the hook it goes. Use bread balls for surface feeders, as your bait has a tendency to float. A can of corn can provide a season of fun carping. They may seem to be unscented, but carp often find them irresistible. Thread several onto the hook so it is completely covered. If you want to make your own “Boilies”, a cup of flour mixed with a cup of corn meal should be the basic ingredients of your. Whatever you add on top of this will depend on you, or the fish. Since scent is strong factor, the addition of a strong, yet new smell to your bait can often produce surprising result. Scents that are commonly used include strawberry, vanilla, peanut butter, corn, yam, and curry. Just like other fisheries, use what you have confidence in and be sure to switch if one becomes unproductive. The magical bait does not exist; experimentation is the recipe to success.

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

Be alert and courteous to the boats around you! When boats are fishing close together and one boat hooks a big spring, well that fish is going to make a big run (usually straight back). You should always move away from the boat that’s fighting a fish or get your gear up and away from the fish. You’ll appreciate it when you’ve hooked that slab and other boats keep out of your way.

Island Outfittersstarts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizesSalmon, Trout and Halibut Leader Boards. Simply weigh your catch in at Island Outfitters and the top five fish in each category on December 31st wins a special prize. Everybody who enters a fish gets a prize!To enter, just bring in your catch to be weighed at our store.

We also have a CARP CULLING CONTEST. It’s time to get the carp numbers down in our local lakes. The Top 5 Carp anglers with the top combined total weights weighed in to our store will win a prize! The contest will go until June 1, 2014.